Winnie the Pooh at the Seaside

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh took a delightful day trip to Blackpool to get ready for his beautifully crafted new musical which bounces into The Grand Theatre from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 August.

A.A. Milne’s beloved honey-loving, yellow bear with the famous red jumper got together with best friends Tigger and Eeyore to enjoy all the fun of the seaside – from sightseeing to heritage tram rides and even an ice cream on the Prom! It was the perfect day out and they even popped into Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre to say hello!

"We didn't realise we were making memories; we just knew we were having fun." - Winnie the Pooh
Deep in the Hundred Acre Wood, an exciting new adventure is about to happen… 

This enchanting new musical adaptation is told through the eyes of the unforgettable characters that have played iconic roles in the lives of children for generations and brings exciting new stories for Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Tigger too though stunning life-size puppetry.

Creator and director Jonathan Rockefeller (whose spectacular puppetry appears in the acclaimed productions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Paddington Gets in a Jam) promises: “It’s everything you know and love about Winnie the Pooh.” Avoiding spoilers about the impressive staging, the acclaimed family entertainment creator added: “You’ll really feel part of the Hundred Acre Wood from the moment you walk into the theatre. There’ll be characters and vignettes you’re familiar with - but in a new adventure.”

Disney’s Winnie the Pooh also includes such familiar songs as Winnie the Pooh, A Rather Blustery Day and The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers, which were written by multiple Grammy Awards winners Robert and Richard Sherman for various animated featurettes and anthologies. It also has some songs by author A.A. Milne and an original score by Nate Edmondson, a longtime collaborator of Rockefeller.

In a brand new story inspired by the beloved books by A. A. Milne and the classic Disney featurettes, Pooh meets his best friend Christopher Robin every day for honey after breakfast. But then one day, Christopher isn’t there and Pooh has to fend for himself and find some honey. Along the way, he encounters the likes of Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Tigger too…

Created by a talented team of artists, designers, patternmakers, builders, welders and fabricators, the characters are rendered as life-sized puppets that the actor-puppeteers operate themselves. “The puppets are so tactile” Jonathan says. “They’re like giant articulated plush toys. The puppeteers in some ways are like Christopher Robin in that they play with the characters and make these stuffed animals come to life.

“What’s wonderful is that we’ve been able to take A.A. Milne’s brilliant stories, Disney’s great animated featurettes and fantastic songs, and mix it all up into a new show. So even if you are incredibly familiar with all those aspects, it’s all in a completely new context. We’re paying respect to the author, the animators and the Sherman Brothers songs but putting our own spin on it.”

The huge task of capturing the beloved bear’s movements, emotions and voice on his visit to Blackpool Grand falls to Benjamin Durham, a 23-year-old ArtsEd graduate who hails from Stoke-on-Trent. The much-loved characters of Eeyore, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga and Roo will be brought to life by an ensemble of performers, including Laura Bacon (Britain’s Got Talent, Star Wars), Harry Boyd (The Play That Goes Wrong, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story), Alex Cardall (Evita, The Osmonds: A New Musical), Chloe Gentles (Mamma Mia!, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Lottie Grogan (Smurfs Save Spring: The Musical, The Lips for Puppets with Guys) and Robbie Noonan (Avenue Q UK Tour, Jack and the Beanstalk).

"I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Book your seats now for Disney’s Winnie the Pooh at Blackpool Grand Theatre and find out!
Disney’s Winnie the Pooh is at Blackpool Grand Theatre from Monday 14 August to Wednesday 16 August 2023.
 
Visit BlackpoolGrand.co.uk or call the box office on 01253 290 190 for bookings and further information.
 
Full Listing:
Disney’s Winnie the Pooh – Mon 14 Aug to Wed 16 Aug 2023. Times vary
Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT
Box Office 01253 290 190
blackpoolgrand.co.uk
Facebook - @blackpoolgrand
Twitter - @Grand_Theatre
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